About Islam
Terms
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- About Muhammad?
- Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a middle class family in Mecca. Was a shepherd boy and a Bedouin (caravan trader). Age 26 began meditating and was visited by angel Gabriel. Was told there is only one god - Allah. Preached on streets of Mecca. His nephew Ali was the first convert. Abu Bakr was another early follower. Was scorned by many who preferred to worship idols. Fled with 70 followers from Mecca to Medina in 612 AD.
- Basic characteristics?
- Fastest growing religion. Second largest religion. 1.2 billion followers. 1/5 of world's population.
- Meaning of "Islam?"
- "To surrender to the will of Allah." Doesn't entail obeying, but a way of life. All action and authority is through Islam.
- What is the Qur'an?
- Holy book of Islam. Word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad between 610 AD and 632 AD. Divided into 114 Surahs/chapters. Includes the Sunna (examples of the prophet) and Hadith (the oral tradition)
- What are the five pillars?
- Testifying faith, praying 5 times daily, Almsgiving (paying zagot), fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Meaning of Bedouin?
- Caravan trader
- Meaning of Surah?
- Chapter in the Qur'an. 114 Surahs overall.
- Meaning of Sunna?
- Part of Qur'an that includes examples of the prophet
- Meaning of Hadith?
- Part of Qur'an that includes oral tradition.
- Meaning of Ka'bah?
- House of God built by Abraham in 1960BC in Mecca in the courtyard of al-Haram (the Great Mosque)
- Meaning of mosque?
- Islamic house of worship.
- Meaning of Imam?
- religious authority who recites the Qur'an.
- Meaning of Shahada?
- Short prayer.
- Meanig of Rakahs?
- postures or bowing during prayer.
- Meaning of Mihrab?
- The niche in the wall of a mosque denoting the direction of Mecca.
- Meaning of Minaret?
- Tall, slim tower next to mosque from where call to prayer is made.
- Meaning of Muezzin?
- Makes call to prayer.
- About Sunni Muslims?
- 80% of Muslims, orthodox branch, believe in evolving customs.
- About Shiite Muslims?
- approximately 20%, fundamentalists, believe in literal interpretation of Qur'an.
- What do Shiites believe about Ali?
- That he should have been the rightful Caliph (successor) after Muhammad instead of Abu Bakr.
- What do the Sunnis believe about the Caliph?
- That the Caliph is a representative of Allah chosen by Allah. Rightly a descendant of Muhammad.
- How is Jerusalem significant to Muslims?
- Location of Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa Mosque, site of Muhammad's flight o Jerusalem and ascent to heaven.